Park Life Southampton- All Life is Here

Transforming the old bowling green in Andrews Park

2011-03-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

The old bowling green in Andrews Park is being transformed into a miniature golf course and it's great to see the chang taking place. The planting was going in today and its all taking shape nicely.
This spring bedding is looking wonderful.

2010-10-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Check out The Paper Eaters, a great Millais event coming to Southampton in November- Unit 26 Bargate Mall. Park Life Southampton is getting involved . Maybe with a walk in the park.

www.thegirls.co.uk and www.flickr.com/photos/thegirlsartists/sets/

What's going on in the park?

2010-09-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that summer is now coming to an end and autumn is upon us. Perhaps now time to upload all the images and tickets and re-live some of those glorious May days. Plus time must be set aside to return to the parks and explore the delights again.

Park Life trolley

2010-08-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

The Park Life trolley is currently dismantled and part is being used for my herb pots. The main chassis is strangely bare and I am contemplating turning this into a mobile hedgerow. Any thoughts or suggestions are most encouraged.

Park Life tickets

2010-06-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

I am now back in circulation and beginning to scan the tickets in which is making me feel all nostalgic. The first randomly selected one appearing here now. I am keen for a visit to the park this week to see what has changed and hoping not to have missed the peonies in bloom

Missing Park Life

2010-06-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have been away for a few days and I am keen to get back to the parks to see the changes that have taken place, catch up with my favourite places in the parks and contact the people I met there and at the Ejectorseat festival to explore future collaborations. I must also go to the Parkafe to see whether people have put any tickets in the box-or even to see whether it is still there.

2010-06-08T03:15:00.000-07:00

Such a lot has been happening over the past few days. The Ejectorseat Festival on Saturday was a great event, successful in many ways. The weather was perfect, the music, creatives and workshops all came together to give us a day of pure magic.
Lots of people filled out the ParkLife tickets and came to play at the table where we had mousey mousey ( a real crowd puller) tiddleywinks and beetle to put us back in touch with our love (or hate) of childhood games and competive nature.
Photos and more of everything to follow.

2010-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

2010-06-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday is the last trolley day in the parks. Lots of things to see and do. If you are around and about come and fill in a card with your thoughts on the park and make a contribution to Parkzine 001 the next phase of Park Life Southampton ( a mini publication/ fan page in print). If you can't make it to the parks, post something here or on the facebook page. the weather looks set to be glorious.

Only one day left of Park Life Southampton trolley

2010-06-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

Last day of Park Life Southampton trolley is Thursday so come to the parks if you can and share your stories. I am collecting the comments and tickets which will be used to form a narrative of the parks. Check out www.ejectorseat.co.uk for the festival in Palmerston Park on Saturday 5th June 2010 where the trolley has its swansong and provides another chance to be involved and interact with the project.

2010-05-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

park life tickets. Come fill one in.

2010-05-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

The smell of the wisteria on Friday was really strong and the wind exhilarating. A breezy and overcast day saw most people wrapped up and rushing through the parks. Later the sun appeared and in a sheltered spot it was really hot. More beds being prepared for summer planting, the bowling green grass cut, alliums bursting in to bloom and purple salvias wonderful in the memorial beds. Not so many people to chat to today (Friday) but the parks are revealing their constantly changing glory and reinforcing their place as a retreat for all.

2010-05-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hi- for all of the people who have been trying to contact me this is my new number for the park 07913 871506. Sadly I lost my phone yesterday along with my photos and numbers. In the parks today everything is bursting into life. The shrub roses are in bloom with heavenly scent and the peony buds are bobbing about in the breeze. A fresh and windy day saw my first try of Tai Chi with Janet under the spreading chestnut tree.

2010-05-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Great day in the parks today. Talked to some great people and knitted a fantastic piece with Knitty Noras in Palmerston park at 2pm. Park Life and Knitty Noras will be showcasing at Ejectorseat Festival on 5 June details www.ejectorseat.co.uk . The parks were looking glorious today. Everything that parks should be friendly, inclusive. sociable, sharing spaces. Southampton parks are truly cosmopolitan.

2010-05-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Back in the parks tomorrow (Monday). Find me in Watts, East and Palmerston park at 2pm checking out Michelle and her knitting group, warming up with a pre-knit before the www.ejectorseat.co.uk art festival where I will be showcasing the Parklife project on Saturday 5th June

2010-05-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

The puppy has been enjoying the park, being trained by its owner. I have been collecting information and people have been completing the special tickets- the information from which will be collated and edited into a Parkzine. Come along to the parks next week and share your views about them. There are alot of very interesting and positive comments about the qualities of the park and the Parkafe, a hub of sociability

2010-05-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

(Tues) They are felling a tree in Watts Park today. A beautiful copper beech which had become diseased and was rotting inside. The machinery nowadays means that the process of cutting down a tree and removing the stump can be achieved in a day. The park man said that for every tree that has to come down two are planted.
Lyn loves the parks here and is always intending to write to the City Council and tell them what a good job they do. She said the keepers today remind her of a scene from Alice in Wonderland-the part where they are tending the rose beds. Bizarrely a short while later we saw a group of students sitting on the grass wearing tall hats with long ears on them. Like the novel it all became a little surreal.
Later on a I came across some forget-me-nots and the intensity of the colour blue always amazes me. I picked a couple of sprigs and have pressed them in my sketch book along with some rosemary flowers and geranium . Every time I open my book the smell of the rosemary springs out and takes me back to the park.

Park Life today has been a lovely day

2010-05-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

The parks keep offering more and more. George thinks that I was sitting on the best bench in the park (lovely sun trap) and that this park is the best park in the world. I have to agree that there is something new to discover each day and also a friendliness and reliability present. Walking through the park the girl said 'I'd love to just lay down in the park right now' and many people were doing just that. Parkafe is many people's favourite place for meeting up and is always busy. Yesterday in spite of the showery weather people were gathering for a late afternoon game of cricket, the strike of the ball and occasional shout breaking through the peace of the park. I spotted two bull finches taking a bath in the rockery waterfall. Linda, down from London visiting her son prefers Mayflower Park because there is more to do there. Her young son was searching for the fish and trying to find frogspawn without success. I have found a tree with an interesting base that I want to draw so I am going to bring my sketchbook tomorrow

2010-05-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

Robin at Parkafe. Great people and coffee.

2010-05-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Trolley. Day 1 version

Park Life day 1/10

2010-05-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Great weather. The park is looking amazing with the plants and trees springing to life . Spotted 2 bull finches taking a bath and a robin shared my lunch. Thanks to everyone who made a contribution today. Comments, extracts and photos coming soon. The trolley will have to be modified as it is top heavy when loaded with all the art equipment but it attracted lots of comments and a fair mix of quizzical looks.

Park Life trolley coming to southampton soon

2010-05-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

Just putting the finishing touches to the trolley. Three component parts plus pennant and bell !! stripped down and minimal and ready for interaction

2010-05-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

15th May is day 1 of the Park Life project . Look out for the trolley and come and have a chat and make your contribution to the pool of information that will be collated, edited and published in Parkzine 001. Pick up your copy at the Ejector Seat festival in Palmerston Park 5th June 2010

Parklifesouthampton.blogspot.com

2010-04-15T16:52:00.001-07:00

Blue skies above and beyond

2010-03-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Capturing Culture across Southampton's City Parks

2010-03-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

PARK LIFE Millais Off-site Project
All life is here
Capturing culture across Southampton’s City Parks

For 10 days in May, artist Jane Kilford will be spending time in Southampton’s City Parks as part of an interactive exploration into the culture of Park Life. With a fascination rooted in places, people and objects Kilford will be collecting anecdotes, stories, words and pictures to form a narrative celebrating Southampton’s collective communities.
Look out for the Park Trolley (a mobile creative hub and collection store) in Watts. East and Palmerston Parks 10am-5pm on May 15-18, 24-16, 28, 31 May and 3 June 2010.
The collections will be published as a parkzine and will be available online and from Millais Off-Site Projects, Southampton Solent University, Southampton City library, Southampton City Parks Dept and other public locations.